Music Review: Sweet Talker

Album: Sweet Talker
Music: Jessie J, Universal Music
Rating: 3
Pop: British singer Jessie J is no plastic pop star. From going bald to creating girl power anthems, she’s done it all in the span of two studio albums. Sweet Talker is her third effort, and she oscillates between 80s throwbacks to 90s pop funk and soul. Burnin’ Up has clap beats and steamy panting interspersed with guitars.Current dancefloor burner Bang Bang is a hot collaboration — literally! — with reigning songstresses Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj. Fire is a lofty ballad that tests Jessie J’s vocal range, but never defeats it. Loud has a nice hook but doesn’t suit Jessie’s vocal range, as she confesses: ‘I try to drown them all out with my sound, but they won’t stop until they tear you down.’ She teams up with De La Soul on the pop funk Seal Me With A Kiss that takes you back to the 90s. Keep Us Together has her singing over piano and R&B beats for a softer song on this interesting mix.